David Moyes
David Moyes Reuters

Manchester United are closing in on a deal for Ajax defender Stefano Denswil in January, according to the Metro.

The 20-year-old is among the rising stars of Dutch football and has firmly established himself in the centre of the Ajax defence. However, a contract row with his present club has made his position at Ajax vulnerable, something which David Moyes is looking to make use of and pull off a grand swoop for the player in the upcoming transfer window. The Eredivisie club were hoping that they can convince the player to extend his stay but United's involvement has made their job that much harder.

The defender is expected to be available for a fee in the range of £5m and will be a brilliant addition to the United squad whose backline is entering its sell-by age. The likes of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are long past their prime and Moyes is looking to bring in some young legs to freshen up the centre of their defence. The Red Devils have been leaking goals this season and are currently eighth in the league, 10 points behind league leaders Arsenal in the title race.

Moyes is believed to have been greatly impressed by his power and pace and believes that the player will have a massive impact on the Premier League pending his arrival. The report states that United are also willing to loan him back to Ajax for the rest of the season if it smoothens the deal.

The former Everton manager is looking to make a serious splash in the January transfer window to bolster his side after a shambolic performance last summer where he failed in his attempt to sign the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara and Ander Herrera. However, Moyes's side have managed to make it to the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup and will face Sunderland in the Stadium of Light before taking on either Manchester City or West Ham United for the trophy.